Our whole family loves the Calgary Waldorf School (CWS)- for so many reasons! We came to the Waldorf school because we were worried about the environment in my son's other school. Within 2 months of being at the CWS, he had returned to his joyous, jokey, outgoing self. Now, 2 years later, he is confident, happy and well-engaged in his school community. At the same time, we enrolled our youngest in the pre-school program for 4 afternoons a week. This was such a beautiful, magical experience for her. She is now in full-day kindergarten and loves it. Both our children wake up happy and excited to go to school in the mornings.
The school community is vibrant and welcoming. My son knows most of the children in the school by name and plays with many from a variety of grades. The buddy system, an inherent part of Waldorf schools, creates bonds and mentorships between the young children and the older children and builds integration and support networks which exist for years to come. We have made good friends with many families in the school. Open invitations to meet-up for skating or a play-ground dates are frequently being extended, so it's easy to integrate into the community. There are also many school-organized events to enjoy.
The teachers are AMAZING and work so hard to teach the curriculum in creative, interesting and beautiful ways. They make a conscious effort to expose children to beauty in all areas. I have spent time helping out in classrooms and have seen how calm, loving and inspiring the environment is. The teachers have a magical way with the kids. When inappropriate behaviours arise, they are handled with calmness, love and understanding. This modelling carries through to the children in the classroom, who often use very clear and mature language to discuss situations/behaviours they do not like. There is a wide range of needs in the classroom, and the teachers manage to gently guide children through difficult moments. From what I have seen and heard, all children in the class are accepted by the others as part of the group and appreciated for their own unique ways.
That said, it is important to do your research and make sure beforehand that the philosophies of this school are a good match for you and your children. Your child will not be learning how to read in pre-school here. For me, that is something I appreciate; for others, this may be seen as a fault. If competition and 'being better than' are important to you, then you'll be happier at a different school. Being outside and appreciating nature are highly valued (though not dominating the schedule); if you feel children learn better sitting in a desk, then this will not be a good fit for you. Learning through play and student-centred learning (which does NOT mean no-guidance and out-of-control classrooms) are woven into the curriculum here; if you're looking for textbooks and lectures, you'll need a different place. You can google Rudolf Steiner to learn more about the reasoning behind the philosophy. Attending an Open House at the school is a great way to get your questions answered and get a sense of what teaching is like here. My comments here are an 'early years' perspective - have a read through some of the alumni reviews here to get a sense of the older students' success and learning experiences.
I am so glad we made the choice to switch to Calgary Waldorf! The diverse community has been so warm and supportive. I look forward to watching my children bloom as they continue their journey here with their friends. read more